CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST AND LOW WATER LEVELS.
WATCH FOR AN ALTERNATE TRIP FOR APRIL 10
Please join us on Saturday April 9th for the annual HCKC float down Sand Creek in southeastern Indiana. This is one of the clubs longest-continuous events on the calendar as it has been scheduled now for several decades and counting. We will run the normal, scenic 12.1 mile route from Westport Dam/access to the Brewersville Bridge access .Along the journey we will pass by not one but two 200 year- old limestone cut mill race water tunnels which are very unique for an Indiana stream to possess. Numerous exposed overhanging rock ledges are a mere standard to enjoy for this section of clear, free flowing water with a gradient of 5.2 f.p.m.
Our meeting place will be at the Westport Dam access area which is just 1/4 mile downstream from the renovated 1880 Westport Covered Bridge off of County Road 1100 South (Delorme Atlas page 52 B-3) at 10 AM. Boats will be dropped off here at the dam and then proceed (18 total miles) for the shuttle to Brewersville and back. The Westport dam access is located 2 miles east of the Westport/State Road 3 flashing light. Travel Main Street east through ''downtown'' Westport (turns into CR 1100 South after leaving town) for 2 miles across the Sand Creek (concrete) bridge and immediately look to your right (south) where vehicles will be parked. The concrete bridge and the covered bridge are adjacent to each other. The streams in southeastern Indiana are very ''water dependent'' and moody to say the least. They can be at a perfect level on Thursday and easily drop 6-12 inches by Saturday and be a real ''drag''. On Friday afternoon I will drive 40 miles to north of Greensburg to the farthest upstream headwater location of Sand Creek to study and check all small feeder streams and make a decision if it is a ''go'' or not. If there is not enough flow I will have to immediately find another option of a different stream within a 30 mile radius to replace our original selection. Please allow enough time for this to happen as it is usually a last minute situation. If I think the level will be OK at an earlier date I will post something in ''concrete'' a day or two in advance but that traditionally has not been the lucky case. Be advised that this is early Springtime paddling and the weather can be very differential in its outcome. We have paddled clear, 80 degrees sunny blue skies with beautiful exposed ''bluebells'' on the banks to fog, unexpected 3'' of rain, sleet, snow and headwinds. Last years trip brought a record crowd of 17 paddlers from 14 different towns and 3 different states ranging in a large geographical area of Cincinnati to Louisville to nearly Chicago. Contact me by 9PM on Friday, April 8th at canoeindiana@yahoo.com or (812) 767-1317 and please try to leave a contact number as people sometimes run late or lost. I will have my cell with me on Saturday morning. Sincerely, Richard Tekulve. Trip leader since 2006.
